A.S. OKA, J.

OVERVIEW

1. This group of Public Interest Litigations/Writ Petitions raises important issues which concern practically every town and city in the State of Maharashtra. The issue is of display of illegal hoardings, banners, arches, posters, advertisements on roads, foot ways/footpaths, road dividers and poles as well as on public and private properties which are visible from the roads/streets. There are large number of affidavits/reports filed on record which will show that it is the political class which is mainly responsible for the said illegalities. Large number of illegal hoardings, banners, posters, arches, advertisements are being illegally displayed by the leaders and workers of various political parties. The members of the political parties or political leaders are displaying such hoardings, banners, arches etc for welcoming their political bosses or leaders to a particular city or town, for wishing the political leaders on their birthdays or birth anniversaries, for offering good wishes to the members of the public on account of various religious festivals such as Ganpati Festival, Navratri Festival, Christmas, Eid, New Year, etc. They also indulge in